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The opening weekend of the 2025 Tour de France was a tumultuous start for Italian sprinter Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), who faced a series of setbacks in his quest for the yellow and green jerseys. Milan, a top sprinter, had high hopes for the opening stages but found himself trailing in the points classification after two days of racing. The weekend was marked by intense competition, a controversial incident with Eritrean sprinter Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), and frustration over missed opportunities.
Milan’s dream of capturing the yellow jersey with a sprint victory in Lille was dashed during the opening stage. The race saw a surprise split in the peloton with 17km to go, leaving Milan in the wrong group and unable to contest the sprint. This was a significant blow, as Milan had prioritized the yellow jersey during his winter training, as revealed in Lidl-Trek’s all-access series.
The tension continued into the second stage, where Milan clashed with Girmay during the intermediate sprint. The incident occurred in a highly stressful moment as the peloton vied for points. TV footage showed Milan attempting to shoulder Girmay off his teammate’s wheel, with Girmay defending his position with an elbow. The two eventually finished in fifth and sixth places, respectively, with Milan edging out Girmay for the points. After the stage, Milan approached Girmay’s team bus to apologize and clarify the situation. Girmay, who had hit his knee on his handlebars during the final climb, was focused on recovery. Both riders and teams agreed to move on from the incident, emphasizing mutual respect.
At the Lidl-Trek bus, Milan explained to Velo that the confrontation was a result of the high-pressure environment of the race. He stressed that there was no lingering animosity and that he and Girmay had resolved the issue. Milan also addressed an Italian journalist who had portrayed the incident negatively, asserting that his relationship with Girmay remained respectful.
Despite the resolution, Milan’s start to his debut Tour de France has been far from ideal. After two stages, he sits fifth in the points classification with 31 points, trailing leader Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) by 40 points and Girmay, who is second with 54 points. Milan’s frustration was compounded by his inability to contest the sprint in the opening stage and the physical altercation during the intermediate sprint on day two.
Looking ahead, Milan has another opportunity to make his mark in the Tour de France during stage 3, a flat stage from Valenciennes to Dunkirk. This stage promises a chance for a bunch sprint, allowing Milan to redeem himself and close the gap in the points classification. For now, the Italian sprinter is focused on putting the challenges of the opening weekend behind him and regaining momentum in the race for the green jersey.
